Lord Derby sent botanist Joseph Burke to collect animals, either alive or dead, from South Africa for his museum and menagerie.

[21] The smooth coat is reddish-brown to chestnut, usually darker in males than females, with 8–12 well-defined vertical white stripes on the torso.

[8] A pendulous dewlap, larger in males than females, originates from between the jowls and hangs to the upper chest when they reach sexual maturity, with a fringe of hair on its edge.

In a 2008 phylogenomic study of spiral-horned antelopes, chromosomal similarities were observed between cattle (Bos taurus) and eight species of spiral-horned antelopes, namely: nyala (Tragelaphus angasii), lesser kudu (T. imberbis), bongo (T. eurycerus), bushbuck (T. scriptus), greater kudu (T. strepsiceros), sitatunga (T. spekei), giant eland and common eland (T. oryx).

It was found that chromosomes involved in centric fusions in these species used a complete set of cattle painting probes generated by laser microdissection.

[29] Previous genetic studies of African savanna ungulates revealed the presence of a long-standing Pleistocene refugium in eastern and southern Africa, which also includes the giant eland.

[30] Giant elands live in the broad-leafed savanna, woodlands, and glades of central and western Africa, which correspond to the two subspecies.

Science author Jonathan Kingdon had thought the giant elands lived only in woodlands of Isoberlinia doka, an African hardwood tree.

[1] In the past, giant elands occurred throughout the relatively narrow belt of savanna woodland that extends across West and Central Africa from Senegal to the Nile.

[1] Primarily nocturnal,[32] giant elands have large home ranges and seasonal migration patterns.

As many other animals do, giant elands scrape mineral lick sites with the help of horns to loosen soil.

Giant elands can move quickly, running at over 70 km/h (43 mph), and despite their size are exceptional jumpers, easily clearing heights of 1.5 m (4.9 ft).

[31] Their primary predators are the lion, nile crocodile and spotted hyena, while young, sickly and a rare adult may be vulnerable to leopards, cheetahs and African wild dogs.

A study in South Africa showed that an eland's diet consists of 75% shrubs and 25% grasses, with highly varying proportions.

A study of giant elands in the Bandia Natural reserve in Senegal revealed that the most important and most preferred plants were various species of Acacia, Terminalia and Combretum, along with Azadirachta indica, Daniellia oliveri, Gymnosporia senegalensis, Philenoptera laxiflora (syn.

Lonchocarpus laxiflorus), Prosopis africana, Pterocarpus erinaceus, Saba senegalensis and pods of Piliostigma thonningii.

[17] Another study in Sudan showed that western giant elands preferred Cassia tora, which was the most abundant legume in the region.

The other components that appeared in minor proportions were forbs and grasses, generally below five percent of the mean fecal volume.

They were seen eating most foliage from Boscia angustifolia, Grewia bicolor, Hymenocardia acida, and Ziziphus mauritiana, and the fruits of Acacia and Strychnos spinosa.

The results suggest that Derby elands that lived in their natural habitat adjusted their maternal behaviour so as to be able to readily maintain a vigilant lookout for predators and other similar risks.

It has many uninhabited habitats that are not expected to be occupied for human settlement, particularly in northern and eastern Central African Republic and south-western Sudan, where their population has notably increased.

The remaining areas are often disturbed by wars and conflicts—activities that can lead to a rapid decline in the eastern giant eland's numbers if not controlled.

[1] A study of the long-term conservation strategy of the western giant eland was done in the Bandia and Fathala reserves, using demographic and pedigree data based on continuous monitoring of reproduction during 2000 to 2009.

The authors concluded that with the introduction of new founders, the GD could be greatly improved in the next 100 years, and suggested that with proper management of the semi-captive population, the numbers of the western giant eland could be increased.

[1] The eastern giant eland is also depleting for similar reasons, and natural causes like continued droughts and competition from domestic animals are contributing to the reduction in numbers.

The western giant eland was once reported in Togo, but is believed to have been confused with the bongo (Tragalephaus eurycerus).

[1] Today the western giant eland is conserved in the Niokolo-Koba National Park and the Faheme Hunting Zone in Senegal.

Eland born at White Oak have been sent to other countries, including Costa Rica and South Africa, to initiate breeding programs.

[48] Giant elands give large quantities of tender meat and high-quality hides even if fed a low-quality diet.

Their milk is comparatively richer in proteins and milkfat than dairy cows, which may be an explanation for the quick growth of eland calves.